BA in German/MFA in Literary Translation

The BA in German/MFA in Literary Translation, gives high-performing undergraduate students the opportunity to earn a graduate degree during their time at Boston University. Many students find the MFA an asset in their post-graduation career plans. Students receive training in German language and literature and, simultaneously, in the history, theory, and practice of literary translation. In addition to developing their skills as translators from German, students will acquire the methods and strategies needed to read translations critically. The dual-degree program is designed for students who hope to pursue employment in fields (such as teaching, media, editing, translating, subtitling, writing, software localization, or law) that value the combination of skilled English writing, a sophisticated grasp of the theory and practice of cultural/linguistic transfer, and advanced competence in German language and culture. The degree is also designed for students who aim to pursue further graduate work in comparative literature, language, or literary studies; translation studies; or who intend to move into cognate humanistic fields.

Learning Outcomes

BA in German:

• Advanced knowledge of major themes and genres in German literature and culture in their historical contexts, including links to other European and world literary traditions.
• Critical thinking, communication, and writing skills within areas of content and cultural knowledge.
• Familiarity with fundamental research skills for German studies, including use of traditional and electronic sources.
• Proficiency in speaking, reading, writing, and listening comprehension in German at or above a level (ACTFL intermediate-mid) where these skills can be used for communication in everyday and academic situations.

MFA in Literary Translation:

• A broad knowledge of the history of translation and translation studies as a discipline, and of the main ideas and debates in the field, from antiquity to the present.
• An advanced ability to translate texts of different genres and levels of difficulty.
• The ability to evaluate translations critically and to pinpoint the methods and strategies used by a translator in order to achieve different effects (e.g., domestication, foreignization, rusticization, archaism, etc.).

Requirements

Bachelor’s-to-master’s programs are linked bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in which the two degrees are conferred sequentially. This bachelor’s-to-master’s program allows students to apply a maximum of 8 units from their undergraduate degree toward the associated master’s degree. The units applied toward the master’s degree must be at the 500 level or above. During the last year of the BA study in this bachelor’s-to-master’s program, students may take two of the required MFA courses chosen from CAS TL 500, TL 541, TL 551, or one literature elective at the 500+ level, which may be counted towards the requirements for the MFA.

Students must apply to bachelor’s-to-master’s programs before the conferral of the bachelor’s degree. Typically, students apply to the BA in German/MFA in Literary Translation program in their junior year. Students in the BA in German/MFA in Literary Translation program must complete at least 24 units while enrolled as a graduate student. Students should consult with the Financial Assistance office to learn how entrance into the bachelor’s-to-master’s program might impact their financial aid.

The requirements for the BA in German/MFA in Literary Translation are:

• the completion of 152 units of coursework
• the completion of all the requirements for the College of Arts & Sciences BA in German Language & Literature
  • These requirements include requirements for the major, college-level requirements (e.g., second language requirement and Natural Science Lab requirement), and requirements of the BU Hub
• the completion of all requirements for the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences (GRS) MFA in Literary Translation

Students interested in the BA/MFA program are encouraged to pursue study abroad opportunities in German-speaking countries early in their studies at Boston University, and to consult frequently with their faculty advisor.

Application Process

Students should apply to the MFA by February 15 of the student’s junior year. The applicant must include the BU transcript, two faculty recommendation letters, a sample of critical writing (8–12 double-spaced pages, usually drawn from previous coursework), a translation sample together with the original German text (8–12 double-spaced pages of prose or 80–100 lines of poetry), a plan of study, and a personal statement describing the applicant’s interest in the program.

For more information about the application process, please see the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences’ PhD and MFA Program Admissions page.

Please refer to the Bulletin for additional general information, including the application procedure or consult the Director of the Literary Translation MFA in the Department of World Languages & Literatures with any specific questions. Information about placement tests, requirements for the undergraduate major in German Language & Literature, and answers to other questions can be found on the departmental website, or in the appropriate section of this Bulletin.